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Recipe

PEPPERMINT COCOA COOKIES

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December can only mean one thing when it comes to food blogging… COOKIES! Over the years, I’ve done more Christmas cookie baking days and cookie exchanges than I can count. These traditions are fun, right? And they truly bring joy. Joy that tastes delicious, and sweet, and comforting. So many of us have memories of a grandparent or a parent making a certain favorite cookie. No matter how old I get, I will always feel nostalgic love for a chocolate crinkle cookie (in my family, we call it a chocolate Kringle cookie) because that’s what tastes like home so to speak. In a year when many of us can’t be near our families for the holidays, we can at least come together over holiday cookies. Perhaps you and your mom make the same traditional recipe on the same day this year? Or maybe you video chat with your brother as you both try a new cookie recipe? Let’s make cookies together this year even if we still aren’t close enough to hug.

White background with chocolate cookies surrounded by red and white peppermint candy pieces.

I’ve had chocolate on the brain lately, brownies specifically, actually. However, brownies don’t scream Christmas to me. With that in mind, I converted a brownie recipe I’ve been working on and turned it into a holiday cookie. My husband loves peppermint with chocolate (frankly, I do too) and so this peppermint cocoa cookie was born. To keep things festive, I used actual peppermint candies for this recipe rather than peppermint extract. I hope you’ll think of your family and holiday traditions as you dive into these cookies.

White background with chocolate cookies surrounded by red and white peppermint candy pieces.
White background with chocolate cookies surrounded by red and white peppermint candy pieces.

Peppermint Cocoa Cookies

Sarah Baade
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 36 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional but add richness to the chocolate flavor)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs
  • 5 oz starlight mint candies or candy canes, broken into small pieces

Instructions
 

  • In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix together sugar, melted chocolate, vegetable oil, espresso powder and vanilla.
  • Stir in eggs one at a time.
  • Stir in broken candy pieces.
  • Chill for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat over to 350°F.
  • Form cookie dough into walnut sized balls and place on parchment lined cookie sheet, 2" apart.
  • Bake 13-15 minutes.

Notes

*I did not have any marshmallow fluff on hand when I made these but I think it would be great for turning these into a sandwich cookie.
Keyword Chocolate, Cookies, Peppermint, Peppermint Cocoa Cookies

PUMPKIN BARS

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In recent months, I have come to learn that Halloween is my daughter’s favorite holiday. Last year was her first time trick or treating and she was nervous. The idea of talking to strangers and asking them for something was a bit much. We didn’t want her to miss out on all the fun so we practiced with her. We sat down and explained how trick or treating works and then literally pretended to go through the motions with her. She was still hesitant but on the big night but she put a brave foot forward and rocked it out.

Yes, the costumes and the candy are part of the fun at Halloween. BUT, my girl loves everything about this season. She has fun making jack-o-lanterns, checking out neighborhood decorations, and eating all the pumpkin treats. Last year, she asked for my homemade pumpkin bread on a weekly basis. This year, I’m giving her another homemade option with these pumpkin bars. Thick crust, smooth pumpkin filling, crumble topping, maple glaze. I know my daughter is going to love this! I’m also confident you and yours will love it.

Pumpkin Bars

Sarah Baade
Thick crust, smooth pumpkin filling, crumble topping, maple glaze. The perfect pumpkin bar.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 bars

Ingredients
  

Crust

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Pumpkin Filling

  • 15 oz canned pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¾ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom

Crumble Topping

  • ⅓ cup flour
  • ⅓ cup old fashioned oats
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup raw pecan pieces
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Maple Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon milk

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together all crust ingredients – mixture will be crumbly. Press mixture into pan and bake 25 minutes. While crust cools, prepare the filling and topping. Keep oven heated to 350° F.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together all pumpkin filling ingredients until smooth. In another medium bowl, stir all crumble topping ingredients together. Spread pumpkin filling over crust. Sprinkle crumble topping over pumpkin filling. Bake 45 minutes. Let cool completely.
  • Once cooled, whisk maple glaze ingredients together in a small mixing bowl then drizzle over pumpkin bars. Use parchment paper to lift bars out of the pan and place on cutting board. Cut bars into 16 squares.
Keyword Pumpkin, Pumpkin Bars, Pumpkin Spice

CLASSIC PESTO

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Since moving to Texas nearly a decade ago, I have tried growing some sort of produce nearly every summer. I’ve been semi-successful with tomatoes and peppers here and there but nothing really worth bragging about. This summer we had some local teenagers build a raised garden bed for us and I am really looking forward to how this will expand my gardening efforts. This is also the first summer I’ve ventured into growing herbs. I’m proud to say that my basil plant has been thriving! This plant has more than doubled in size in the short couple of months its been living in my backyard. The best way I could think of to honor this beautiful plant is to make pesto out of it. This recipe puts the basil front and center.

You can actually make pesto from a variety of ingredients. You essentially choose your greens, choose your nuts, and combine with the remaining typical ingredients. I love that this enables you to use what you have on hand. This past weekend, I even made a version that used the green leaves from my sweet potato plants. But let’s be honest, most people don’t have those readily available. As I continue to play around with different combinations, I may post some of my favorite pesto recipes. There is a lot to be said, though, for starting with the basics though.

Here, I’ve decided to keep things traditional – basil and pine nuts. Once you put it all together, there are lots of options for using your pesto. I love eating it on toast with hummus and a thick tomato slice. You can use pesto instead of a red sauce as your base on pizza or on pasta. I’m also a huge fan of pesto on fried eggs. I’d love to hear how you end up using this recipe so feel free to leave a comment below with the details.

Classic Pesto

Sarah Baade
Classic pesto is easy to make and a fantastic way to use up fresh basil.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Condiments, Sauces
Cuisine Italian

Equipment

  • Food Processor

Ingredients
  

  • 1/3 cup pine nuts
  • 2 cups fresh basil, packed
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Place pine nuts in a dry sauté pan and cook over medium low heat. Stir frequently until pine nuts are lightly browned. Once toasted, immediately remove pine nuts from heat and place on a separate plate to cool. ***Watch pine nuts closely during this process as they can quickly pass from lightly toasted to burned.
  • Place cooled pine nuts, basil, parmesan cheese, and garlic in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground.
  • Add olive oil, lemon juice and salt into the food processor and pulse until smooth.
Keyword Basil, Pesto, Pine Nuts

PERFECT DOZEN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

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I’ve been on a sweets kick over the past few weeks. Sorry, not sorry about that. In a way, I’m just going back to my roots with this post though. Baking is what first drew me to the kitchen. And chocolate chip cookies? Isn’t that what most of us first learn to bake with? My daughter has known the basic ingredients for chocolate chip cookies since she was two years old. We’re still working on measurements but I love that she can call out the ingredients we need as we grab them from the pantry and fridge.

Even though this is my fourth chocolate chip cookie recipe (you can find links to the others at the bottom of this page), I know I will create more in the future. This has become my favorite cookie to play with and make variations of. Honestly, you guys have also been a driving force behind these recipes. I’ve heard stories about you using my chocolate chip cookie recipes to teach your own kids how to bake. Stories about making my recipes for special occasions. It means so much to me to know that you all are incorporating my cookie creations into your own traditions and communities! Without further adieu, here is the latest version. I really think of this one as a classic chocolate chip cookie. It makes only a dozen because some folks have a need for small batch recipes. That being said, these cookies are larger than I usually make and they are full of flavor.

Perfect Dozen Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sarah Baade
A small batch recipe for a classic chocolate chip cookie – this recipe makes 12 large cookies.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream together brown sugar and butter. Scape down sides of bowl as needed.
  • Add egg and vanilla to butter and mix until combined.
  • Gradually stir dry ingredients into butter mixture until just combined.
  • Stir in chocolate chips then chill dough for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Once chilled, scoop 6 heaping tablespoons of cookie dough onto the baking sheet and bake 17 minutes or until cookies are golden brown. Repeat with remaining dough.
  • Enjoy cookies warm with a glass of milk or a scoop of ice cream.
Keyword Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Homemade Cookies, Small Batch Recipe

More chocolate chip cookie recipes:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Soft Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

LEMON DELIGHT

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When I look back on memories of visiting my grandparents, one thing that stands out to me is simplicity. I recall finding joy in very simple activities such as exploring the vegetable garden, playing dominos, or stomping on the bubble wrap Grandpa had saved for us. While some states are a bit more open, Texas is still a hotbed for this COVID19 so my family and I are still staying home as much as possible. We are relearning to embrace simple activities with our little girl. We love splashing in puddles after the occasional rain we get. We planted our own vegetable garden. We play with building blocks and read books. Yes, we still watch TV on the weekends but we are really making memories through these simple activities.

Our kitchen has also become a place of simplicity and family time lately. This recipe came from my grandmother’s recipe box and is perfect for letting the kids help. Three ingredients and, as suggested by the name, this treat is absolutely delightful. Pull out your blender, pour all the ingredients in, mix it up and enjoy! I made this recipe with pink lemonade but the original version used regular lemonade. Take your pick, change it up based on you mood. Either way, this is a fast and fun recipe to indulge in this summer.

Lemon Delight

Sweet and slightly tart, this frozen treat is perfect for summer.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pint vanilla ice cream
  • 1.5 cups milk
  • 12 oz frozen lemonade (regular or pink)

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!
Keyword Ice Cream, Lemon, Lemonade

Looking for additional frozen treats? I’ve got you covered! Click on the links below to help keep cool this summer.

CHERRY LIMEADE POPSICLES

NO CHURN BOURBON PECAN ICE CREAM WITH CHOCOLATE SWIRLS

CREAMY CHAI SPICED POPSICLES

BLACKBERRY CHEESECAKE NO CHURN ICE CREAM

NO CHURN CHOCOLATE CHUNK COFFEE ICE CREAM

NO CHURN BOURBON PECAN ICE CREAM WITH CHOCOLATE SWIRLS

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The Heat

This seems like the hottest summer we’ve had in my nine years of living in Texas. Maybe I’m just feeling the pain of not being able to cool off in a swimming pool or at a movie theater but this heat is miserable. While doing my best to stay put at home due to COVID19, I’ve been looking for fun ways to stay cool. My family and I primarily stay inside but lets face it, a three year old needs to get outside to burn energy every once in a while. We’ve mostly taken to playing with the hose out on our driveway (fire ants keep us off the lawn). If we are lucky, we hit a day that is below 80 degrees in the morning and go for a walk but that isn’t often. I don’t think I’ve ever wished so badly to have a pool in my own backyard!

The Cool Down

Given all this heat, you know I’m not spending much time using the oven or even the stovetop right now. Instead, my work from home lunches are consisting of sandwiches and fresh fruit. That sweet tooth still needs attention too though. Bring on the no churn ice cream!!! What I love about no churn is that it is so darn easy to make but also, the flavor options are endless. I often grab whatever looks good from the pantry and just create as the mood strikes. This time around, I had a small bottle of bourbon sitting on my counter and some leftover pecan pieces tucked away in my freezer. I love it when ingredients from other recipes can easily come together for something new. Go ahead and make this incredible no churn bourbon pecan ice cream with chocolate swirls. Tuck in the back of the freezer until the kids have gone to bed and then indulge!

No Churn Bourbon Pecan Ice Cream With Chocolate Swirls

Sarah Baade
Soft serve bourbon ice cream with pecans and chocolate swirls – no churn required.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups heavy cream, cold
  • 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • 3 tablespoons bourbon
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup pecan pieces
  • 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled slightly

Instructions
 

  • In a large, chilled bowl, beat heavy cream on high until soft peaks form.
  • Beat sweetened condensed milk, bourbon, brown sugar, vanilla and salt into heavy cream until fully incorporated.
  • Stir pecans into ice cream mixture.
  • Pour half of the ice cream mixture into a 9×5 loaf pan. Drizzle half of the melted chocolate over ice cream in pan. Swirl chocolate into ice cream mixture with a knife. Repeat this process with second half of ice cream and chocolate. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for a minimum of 6 hours, preferably overnight.

Notes

Techniques for melting chocolate:
  • Double boiler – place a heat safe bowl over a pot of simmering water. Stir your chocolate chips/pieces in the bowl until it is fully melted.
  • Microwave – heat chocolate chips/pieces in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds then stir. Repeat this until chocolate is fully melted.
Keyword Bourbon Pecan Ice Cream, Ice Cream, Ice Cream Recipe, No Churn, No Churn Ice Cream

More No Churn Recipes

SWEET VANILLA SNACK MIX

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COVID quarantine has me craving all the snacks! I’m not the only one, right?! I’ve realized that when I’m working from my office, there are multiple factors that keep me from thinking about food all day. As an audiologist, I’m obviously not going to be snacking while seeing a patient. Can you imagine your doctor doing something like that? No way! The second biggest reason I don’t snack at work is that I simply don’t have access to snacks. We don’t even have a vending machine at our office, let alone a cafeteria. Sure, I could keep a box of snacks in the break room but if that doesn’t exist, I don’t even think twice. Working from home is strange in general but my biggest struggle has proven to be full kitchen access just 20′ from my desk.

I love snack mix! Yes, it satisfies my snacking urges but it is also so versatile! You can change up the flavor based on your cravings – sweet vs salty, etc. But you can also change it up based on what you already happen to have in your pantry. Currently, my daughter has been on a kick of mixing Cheerios and Crispix into one bowl for breakfast. Since that’s what we have on hand right now, both of those went into this new recipe. I happen to keep pecans on hand for baking so I tossed those in as well. You see what I’m getting at here? My general process for snack mix includes two cereal varieties, a cracker, some sort of nut and something salty. On occasion, I also add something sweet. To help get you inspired to create your own mix, I’ve created a list of possible ingredients for you.

Snack Mix Ingredient Ideas:

  • Rice, corn, wheat or oat based cereals that have a crunch
  • Peanuts, cashews, walnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans
  • Sunflower seeds, pumpkins seeds
  • Pretzels, bagel chips, rye chips, oyster crackers, cheese based cracker such as cheez-its or goldfish
  • Candy coated chocolates such as m&m’s, chocolate chips, dried cranberries, banana chips, dried mango – note, these sweet ingredients are best added after the rest of the mix has baked and cooled completely.

SEET VANILLA SNACK MIX

Sarah Baade
This sweet vanilla snack mix has a crunch and light sweetness that will keep you coming back for more.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Snack
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups Crispix cereal
  • 2 cups cheerios (plain)
  • 2 cups pretzel sticks
  • 1 cup oyster crackers
  • 1 cup pecan halves
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup candy coated chocolates (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 250°F.
  • In a large bowl, mix together Crispix, Cheerios, oyster crackers, pretzels and pecans.
  • In a medium, microwave safe bowl, melt butter in the microwave. Then, with butter still hot, whisk in brown sugar, vanilla and salt.
  • Pour butter mixture over cereal mix and stir until cereal mix is evenly coated.
  • Transfer mix onto a parchment lined baking sheet and and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
  • Let snack mix cool completely before stirring in candy coated chocolates.
Keyword Snack, Snack Mix, Sweet Snack, Sweet Vanilla Snack Mix, Vanilla

*If you enjoyed this recipe, you might also like my Honey Sriracha Snack Mix.

Easy Pasta Salad

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At the beginning of the year, I set three food goals for myself. 1)Cook a meal for another family once each month. 2)Buy from my local farmers market at least once per month. 3)Bake a bread recipe of one sort or another each month. Friends, COVID-19 has seriously interrupted these plans! Social distancing, businesses (and the farmers markets) closed, and difficulty finding flour in the stores. I will revisit these goals when I am able to but in the mean time, I have been focusing on simple recipes.

Fancy ingredients and complicated cooking techniques are not prerequisites to a good meal. In fact, some of my favorite dishes are made quickly with just a handful of ingredients. With this in mind, along with my yearning for farmers market produce, I’ve created my easy pasta salad. There is also some versatility in this recipe. You can use whatever small pasta you can get your hands on. Eat it as a side dish, or add your favorite protein to make it your entree. And once you can go to your farmers market again, be sure to show your support and buy your ingredients for this one from your local farmers.

Easy Pasta Salad

Sarah Baade
An easy to make pasta salad that can be used as a side dish or an entree.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dinner, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb small pasta such as orecchiette, shells or elbow noodles
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons (divided) olive oil
  • 15 oz canned chickpeas
  • 12 oz small tomatoes – mixed variety, halved
  • 1 medium cucumber, cut into 1/4" slices then quartered
  • 1/2 small red onion, diced
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Optional: protein such as tofu, grilled bratwurst, or grilled chicken

Instructions
 

  • Cook pasta to al dente according to package directions. Drain pasta then rinse with cold water until cooled.
  • Transfer pasta to a large bowl and stir together with 2 tablespoons olive oil.
  • Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumber and red onion then toss to combine.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, Italian herb seasoning and salt. Pour over pasta and gently stir until pasta is evenly coated. Top with protein of choice if desired.
Keyword Easy Pasta Salad, Easy Recipe, Pasta, Pasta Salad

BAKED OATMEAL

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Three Years!

This week is the 3rd anniversary of Slice Of Honey! As I look back over all of my posts, I find myself filling up with joy and pride. When I started, I wasn’t sure how long I would last or if I was capable of making the progress I knew I needed. Here I am. Three years in and I almost can’t believe the improvements I have made in my recipes, my photography, and my writing. There is still plenty of room for improvement (believe me, I’m aware of this). But still… Go ahead, look back at my first few posts back in 2017 and you’ll see what I’m talking about. I haven’t updated very many of those original posts because they are such a strong reminder of how far I’ve come. And yes, I am absolutely giving myself a pat on the back! I’m also celebrating with this new baked oatmeal recipe.

Adapting & Getting Creative

While I’m celebrating this blog, I also find myself in a tornado of other emotions. The world is trying to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. We are all learning how to isolate while trying to remain social at a healthy distance. Thank you modern technology!!! We are learning to adapt to new work and education environments. We are also learning how to be more creative. That is my angle with this baked oatmeal recipe – you can adapt and get creative with this one! I’m giving you the recipe as I created it. However, I’m also giving you some alternate ingredients in case you haven’t been able to acquire the exact ones I used. When you make this, I would love to hear how you changed it to make it your own! Leave comments at the bottom of this post or hit me up on Instagram or Facebook and share a pic of what you ended up with.

Baked Oatmeal

A very adaptable oatmeal recipe for when you have limited ingredients in your kitchen.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 9 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup pecan pieces
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter, slightly cooled
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries

Optional Toppings:

  • vanilla yogurt
  • whipped cream

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9×9 baking pan.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together oats, pecans, brown sugar, salt,cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and baking powder. Set aside.
  • In a second medium bowl, whisk together egg, vanilla, milk, and butter.
  • Place dry ingredients and frozen blueberries in baking pan, gently stirring berries into mixture.
  • Pour liquid ingredients over oats and berries. Let liquid begin to set into dry ingredients for about 1 minute then bake for 35-40 minutes or until center is set and top is slightly golden brown.
  • Serve warm or cold with toppings as desired.

Notes

Substitutions:
  • No pecans? Use walnuts or sliced almonds.
  • No brown sugar? You can use an equal amount of honey or maple syrup.
  • No eggs? You can use 3 tablespoons of aquafaba (the liquid in a can of chickpeas).
  • No vanilla extract? Try almond extract.
  • No cow’s milk? You can use almond, soy, or coconut milk. 
  • No butter? Try margarine or a butter flavored shortening.
  • No blueberries? Use blackberries, raspberries, banana slices or peaches.
Keyword Baked Oatmeal, Blueberry Oatmeal, Breakfast, Easy Breakfast, Oatmeal, Oatmeal Recipe

Looking for more breakfast options? Try these Blueberry Muffins With Streusel Topping or Savory Spinach Turnovers.

GREEN MAGIC SMOOTHIE

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I go through fazes when it comes to sweets. At times, I can resist easily and am not at all bothered by watching others indulge in front of me. Then there are times when I am completely addicted. I go on big baking kicks and have “sharing” sized bags of candy hidden in my desk drawer at work. A month ago, I was on a huge sweets kick – HUGE. I was eating skittles by the handful, a few times per day. Not good, friends. This was not good. So, I made a commitment to give up sweets for Lent this year. Not only that, I added in daily exercise – a minimum of 10 minutes but striving for 30 each day. I’m nearly half way through my 40 days without sweets and am happily back to the point where I’m not excessively tempted. My body is also happy with the changes I’ve made. I’m feeling a bit more energetic and definitely feeling more capable of keeping up with my energetic toddler. I’m always a work in progress (aren’t we all?) but I’m thankful for the changes I’ve seen so far.

One of the perks of giving up sugary treats is that naturally sweet foods, such as fruit, taste more vibrant. Smoothies are a great example of this! You can keep on track with healthy eating habits while satisfying any lingering temptations for something sweet. I’ve been a big fan of green smoothies for a long time and finally decided to create my own.  A blend of both fruits and vegetables with a lightly sweet flavor. We are loving this new smoothie recipe in our house. It is also a great way of getting extra servings of fresh produce into my daughter’s diet.

Green Magic Smoothie

A blend of both fruits and vegetables with a lightly sweet flavor.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Drinks
Servings 2 Smoothies

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups fresh spinach
  • 2 kiwi, peeled
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 1 cup frozen broccoli
  • 1 cup frozen pineapple
  • 1 cup frozen peaches
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon agave (optional for added sweetness)
  • 2 teaspoons ground flax seed (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in a blender and blend on high until smooth.

Notes

You can portion out the fruit and veggies ahead of time and place them in a bag in the freezer. When you’re ready to make your smoothie, empty the contents of the bag into your blender and add the almond milk
Keyword Green Magic Smoothie, Green Smoothie, Smoothie, Smoothie Recipe

Love this recipe? You might also enjoy this Pomegranate Blueberry Smoothie.